BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs.

"This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products," said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. "Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world's best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage.

"This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers," Reuss said.

The announcement came at an event held at the plant with employees and several special guests, including Gov. Steve Beshear. The governor last June signed a bill designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.

"Kentucky has a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship with GM and this significant investment further demonstrates the strength of our partnership," Beshear said.

The plant in Bowling Green is scheduled to continue building the current generation Corvette for at least the next two model years, including the 2012 model year that begins this summer. During this period, the investment starts to take effect, preparing the facility for the next-generation Corvette.

Bowling Green is the exclusive manufacturer of all versions of the Chevrolet Corvette – Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1. Corvette's current generation, the sixth in its 58-year history, has seen the car enter the realm of the world's highest-performing cars.

Nearly 400 production workers, represented by the UAW Local 2164, assemble these vehicles on a one-shift, 10-hour, Monday-Thursday production schedule. The plant employs many specialized operations, including unique hand-crafted techniques. Bowling Green has been home to Corvette production since 1981.

"We need to rebuild the great American middle class. There is no better way to achieve this worthy goal than providing meaningful jobs like the ones being created in Bowling Green," said UAW Vice President Joe Ashton. " Our members have earned this investment through their hard work focused on the Corvette customers' unique desire for high performance, quality, and style.

"I offer my congratulations to a great American Union Workforce, Local 2164, for a job well done."

The additional jobs will be filled in accordance with the United Auto Workers -GM National Agreement.

Approximately 50,000 tourists visit the Bowling Green plant annually to catch a glimpse of the manufacturing process, some even watching their new cars being completed before taking delivery from the neighboring National Corvette Museum.

Thoughts? I love the looks of the C6 but a C7 is about due really curious to how it would look. Also makes sense since the 6th gen camaro is rumored to be out in 2015/16.

Bitch better be packing a 32V 454 LS, 750hp N/A lol...Like a bad ass LT5..Yeah, good luck with that wish!!!

joshp14

05-06-2011, 11:37 PM

Had a private tour back in 08 and it was awesome. This was before the ZR1 was for sale but there were several on the assembly line. I found it funny that no longer than 2 minutes after every car was started at the end of the line, they have it on a chassis dyno running those things up to redline.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

05-06-2011, 11:40 PM

Had a private tour back in 08 and it was awesome. This was before the ZR1 was for sale but there were several on the assembly line. I found it funny that no longer than 2 minutes after every car was started at the end of the line, they have it on a chassis dyno running those things up to redline.

im guessing thats how they break them in? i wonder if they change the oil after that.

joshp14

05-07-2011, 12:37 AM

im guessing thats how they break them in? i wonder if they change the oil after that.

Nope...unless they pull them back in later, but I HIGHLY doubt it gets changed.

Goes from assy line to alignment rack, then dyno, then to car wash, then out the door to the lot.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

05-07-2011, 12:45 AM

Nope...unless they pull them back in later, but I HIGHLY doubt it gets changed.

Goes from assy line to alignment rack, then dyno, then to car wash, then out the door to the lot.

i wonder if its changed once it hits a dealer. i wonder if GM recommends a change at 500 MILES OR SOMETHING.

NO thanks. 16 valves and pushrods for me. Stick with what works. :nod:

I would like to see a 427ci base engine for the coupe though. :D

DiscerningZ32

05-07-2011, 01:53 AM

I would like to see something to change it up a bit.

I would also like to see more version, including one that is more track oriented.

2002_Z28_Six_Speed

05-07-2011, 02:02 AM

The plant was well worth visiting. I was there during the 50th anniversary. Looking back it feels like the 50th anniversary car was a joke. Corvettes have come a long time. Perhaps, I should get one after a couple of model years of this next gen. :)

i wonder if its changed once it hits a dealer. i wonder if GM recommends a change at 500 MILES OR SOMETHING.

Why?

ULTIMATEORANGESS

05-07-2011, 08:16 AM

The plant was well worth visiting. I was there during the 50th anniversary. Looking back it feels like the 50th anniversary car was a joke. Corvettes have come a long time. Perhaps, I should get one after a couple of model years of this next gen. :)

Why?

i would think theres some wear material that should be drained after running a car on a dyno when its new.

Tainted

05-07-2011, 09:01 PM

I just hope they don't ruin it with all this bullshit old car looks and weight

LS1LT1

05-07-2011, 10:01 PM

i always wanted to visit that plant.The plant was well worth visiting. I was there during the 50th anniversary.I did the basic plant tour back in 2000 (visited the Corvette Museum for the first of two times then as well), it's pretty damn cool. :nod:

2002_Z28_Six_Speed

05-09-2011, 12:27 AM

i would think theres some wear material that should be drained after running a car on a dyno when its new.

I hope the prices of the ls3 Corvettes drop.:D The new design should be sick, hopefully.

joshp14

05-10-2011, 12:34 AM

It's not changed. Dealer does the PDI, cleans it up and it hits the lot. It's up to the owner to read the owners manual and change it as required. You know, that book in the glove box that no one ever opens anymore, then comes into the dealer bitching that their convertible top wont operate when all they had to do is open the manual to realize that the trunk partition has to be in place before it will operate. Seen this countless times on the Corvettes.

I will never understand why people don't read it...you learn so much that you probably had no idea your car can do....I'm not bitter or anything. :devil:

2002_Z28_Six_Speed

05-10-2011, 02:08 AM

id still feel better having it changed.

I'm glad you have a sense of humor. It is something lacking on this fourm.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

05-10-2011, 06:29 AM

I'm glad you have a sense of humor. It is something lacking on this fourm.

i try. :D

Tom's_03SVT

05-22-2011, 03:24 AM

i always wanted to visit that plant.

Been there a few times and the Corvette Museum too...great road trip.

bayer-z28

05-22-2011, 07:50 AM

I hope the prices of the ls3 Corvettes drop.:D The new design should be sick, hopefully.

I'd hope so too, but I don't think they will budge much. Look at C5 prices still. ~$24k.

It'llrun

05-22-2011, 04:00 PM

I'd hope so too, but I don't think they will budge much. Look at C5 prices still. ~$24k. Holy moly that's expensive for a C5!

AznMuscle

05-25-2011, 01:02 PM

I'd hope so too, but I don't think they will budge much. Look at C5 prices still. ~$24k.

Maybe up there. You can get c5z's here for 18-24k. A base c5 is like 15k or cheaper.

The C7 Concept looks great IMO...have you guys not seen it? I've also been under the impression they were moving to rear engine, 5.5L motor similar to the one now in use in the C6-R racecar...thats where they got the LS motors from :)